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St. Louis American See page A9
The
CAC Audited SEPTEMBER 9 – 15, 2021
Serving, empowering and advocating for equity in St. Louis since 1928
stlamerican.com
SLMPD Chief John Hayden announces retirement
Vol. 93 No. 24 COMPLIMENTARY
Dogan sets his sights on County Executive office Page says he would face ‘uphill battle’
By Alvin A. Reid The St. Louis American
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American
St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden speaking at a press conference Wednesday, Sept 8, 2021 announcing his retirement from the department set for Febuary of 2022. At left is interim Public Safety Director Dan Isom on the steps of St. Louis City Hall.
National search for replacement begins
By Dana Rieck The St. Louis American St. Louis Police Chief John Hayden on Wednesday announced his retirement after approximately four years as chief. He will step down Feb. 23, the day marking his 35th anniversary with the department. “Keep in mind that February is five months from now, so I still plan to serve faithfully until then, but I thought it was important to let the mayor and the director of public safety know of my intention at this time, so that they would have an opportunity to seek out a suitable successor,” Hayden said at a City Hall press conference. “This decision was carefully and prayerfully considered by myself and my family and we all believe that it is time for me to pass the proverbial baton.” Hayden was met with a host of challenges as chief, including a record-breaking homicide rate in 2020, a pan-
demic and several high-profile incidents including: three white police officers charged with beating a handcuffed Black detective, Luther Hall; the death of officer Katlyn Alix who was shot and killed by fellow officer Nathaniel Hendren while he was on duty in January 2019; and local protests in summer 2020 over the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. His announcement comes less than two weeks after St. Louis County Police Chief Mary Barton resigned after 16 months of addressing allegations of a racist culture within the agency. During the mayoral campaign, Mayor Tishaura Jones was asked during a debate if, as mayor, she would interview Hayden to ensure he was the right person to continue leading the department. “Everything is on the table, every position is on the See HAYDEN, A6
n “I want everyone to know that serving as the 35th police chief of the city of St. Louis has been an honor of a lifetime.” — Police Chief John Hayden
State Rep. Shamed Dogan, R-98, says he is proud to have been born and raised in north St. Louis County and that he will campaign throughout its municipalities to win Democratic votes in his quest for the office of County Executive. Dogan announced on Wednesday he is running for the Republican nomination and, if successful, is eager to square off against County Executive Sam Page or another Democratic candidate in the November 2024 general election. “I’ve been a leader in critical justice reform and worked with elected officials on both sides of the aisle,” Dogan told The St. Louis American. “We passed the most significant police reform bill State Rep. Shamed since Ferguson. Dogan People have talked about it for years, I got it done.” Dogan said the bill “holds bad police officers accountable while helping good police officers fight violent criminals who threaten our communities.” He added, “it’s time to also stop locking people up for minor marijuana offenses and non-violent crimes. This will keep people out of prison and stop wasting taxpayer dollars.” In his announcement release, Dogan criticized recent Democratic leadership in the County Executive’s office. “For nearly 8 years, Steve Stenger and Sam Page have let us down. Corruption. Population decline. Rising crime. Kids falling behind,” he said. “If the last year has made anything clear, it’s that we have a County Executive who’s more concerned with his own power and self-interest than with helping regular folks. We deserve better.” “Representative Dogan has an uphill battle,” Page told The American. See DOGAN, A7
Health centers physician says diverse community thoughts should help direct County ARPA funds By JoAnn Weaver The St. Louis American St. Louis County has received $96.5 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds, the first allotment of the $193 million the county is expected to receive over the next three years. Dr. Kanika Cunningham, a family medicine physician at Family Care Health Centers, believes there should be a team assembled to help assess the needs of community and where a proposed $36 million new health center in North County would be located. It would increase health services and in-clinic lab capacity and include a state-of-the-art Substance Abuse Support Center. “I definitely want them to be mindful of diversity, equity, and inclusion,” Cunningham said. “There should be a committee made up of community members to assist in allocation
of these funds, not just health department public officials; the community needs to be involved.” Cunningham noted that systemic racism has had a major impact on the St. Louis region and that they need to be understood by those who work at the future center. “The individuals who work at the Center will also need to recognize and understand the effects systemic racism has had on Blacks when it comes to substance use and create a more equitable approach with substance use to reach those in the community who are often left out,” Cunningham said. “The people who work there need to look like the people they serve in addition to undergoing [DEI] training before opening up to treat the first patient in addition to what the latest evidence-based research is on treating See FUNDS, A7
Dr. Kanika Cunningham, family medicine physician at Family Care Health Centers, is calling on St. Louis County leaders to recognize the role systemic racism plays in health care disparities, COVID-19 responses.
Photo by Wiley Price / St. Louis American